Mastodon is a social media application that is text-first, similar to Twitter. It has been providing its services since 2016.
While Bluesky is an up-and-coming text-fist social media application that is in the development process by the ex-members of Twitter.
This article will compare Bluesky and Mastodon based on their features.
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What Is Bluesky?
Bluesky is a text-oriented social media platform. It is similar to Twitter.
Furthermore, the development team for the platform is ex-developers of Twitter.
Users can download the application from the IOS and Android app store. Additionally, users can post messages up to 300 characters long.
Currently, users cannot access Bluesky easily; they need an invitation to use the application.
Furthermore, the social media application is still in development. Thus, users can expect full access after the completion of the development process.
Features Of Bluesky
Here are some notable features of Bluesky;
1. Decentralized Servers
This is going to be a recurring feature in both social media applications.
In decentralized servers, users can use a localized server near them or create a server themselves.
This allows each server to have its moderation and allows the users to feel like they are amidst a group of people with similar thoughts.
2. Text-Oriented
Bluesky heavily leans toward text-only posts, similar to Twitter’s early days.
This is an excellent feature for users who prefer reading text-based posts to seeing vivid images and videos.
3. Open Framework
Lastly, the application features an open framework. This means that users can choose the information they see in their feeds.
This is one of many features that Bluesky shares with Mastodon.
What Is Mastodon?
Mastodon is a text-first social media application. However, the application does images, photos and videos. Furthermore, the application debuted on March 16, 2016.
Users can download the application from IOS and Android app stores.
Comparatively, Mastodon allows users to post messages of upto 500 words.
However, users can post various links, images, audio files, and videos alongside messages.
Mastodon is entirely free to use and is currently available.
Furthermore, in recent times after the changes in Twitter, the social media platform has seen a growth of nearly 400% in its user base.
Features Of Mastodon
Features of Mastodon are very similar to Bluesky. However, there are a few additions to Mastodon. Here are some of them;
1. Decentralized Servers
The Mastodon servers are completely independent of one another.
However, there is communication between servers when you follow someone from a different server, or someone follows you from a different server.
Furthermore, users can move from one server to another.
Thus, when this happens, there needs to be proper communication between the servers for the smooth functioning of the social media application.
2. Open Source
Mastodon is an open-source application. This means the users can change the application they see fit for personal use.
Furthermore, this also allows the team of Mastodon to learn and gain various improvements for the application from the community itself.
3. Not For Sale
Mastodon believes in ad-free content. Furthermore, they also state that the users’ data is in control of the users, and the Mastodon team will never use it to push unnecessary posts to the users.
4. Moderation In The User’s Hands
This is one of the most prominent features of Mastodon that allows every server in Mastodon to have a unique set of rules.
Furthermore, Mastodon also states that moderation is not done through a top-down corporate level but by the users themselves.
Bluesky Vs. Mastodon – Which Is Better?
Between Mastodon and Bluesky, currently, Mastodon is better to use.
The main reason for this is that Bluesky is currently an invite-only social media application.
Thus, users cannot quickly get into the application and use it.
However, users can easily download Mastodon and use it right away.
In Addition to that, Mastodon is an open source application, being an open-source application.
If an issue arises, a community member will likely fix it faster than the developers.
Thus, we can further dive into this topic once Bluesky launches worldwide without the invite-only clause. However, currently, Mastodon is far better than Bluesky.
The Bottom Line
Social Media is an integral part of our lives now. And with this in mind, various social media platforms are popping up.
However, even among them, some will be better and garner the most users.
In the case of Mastodon vs. Bluesky, currently, Mastodon is in the lead because of its availability.
But this may change once Bluesky is available for all to use.
Hopefully, this article can help you choose between using Mastodon right now or waiting for a full release of Bluesky.
